Indian chess Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh received the prestigious Arjuna Award 2025 from President Droupadi Murmu during the National Sports and Adventure Awards ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on 13 November 2026. The 20-year-old chess player was among 17 sportspersons selected for the honour in recognition of their outstanding performances and contributions to Indian sports.
Key Highlights:
- Divya Deshmukh received the Arjuna Award 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 13 November 2026
- She won the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025, defeating Koneru Humpy in the final tie-breaks
- She was part of India's gold medal-winning team at the 45th Chess Olympiad and secured an individual gold medal
The award acknowledges Divya's remarkable achievements in international chess, including her performances at the FIDE Chess Olympiad, the Asian Continental Women's Chess Championships and the FIDE Women's World Cup. Her consistent performances have established her as one of India's promising young chess talents.
Born in December 2005, Divya has achieved several milestones in her chess career. She won the Asian Continental Women's Chess Championship in 2023, followed by the World Junior Girls Championship in 2024. Her biggest breakthrough came in 2025 when she won the FIDE Women's World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, defeating fellow Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in the final tie-breaks.
With this victory, Divya became the first Indian woman to win the Women's Chess World Cup and secured the Grandmaster title. She also became the third champion in the tournament's history.
Her achievements extend to team competitions. At the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2024, Divya was part of India's gold medal-winning women's team. She also secured an individual gold medal for her performance on Board 3, contributing to India's historic campaign.
Sharing her happiness after receiving the national honour, Divya said, "Honored to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award from the Hon’ble President of India. A moment etched in my heart forever."
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2025 on 18 August 2026. Alongside Divya, Indian chess Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujarathi was also selected for the Arjuna Award. Other recipients included decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, badminton players Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand, and hockey players Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal.
President Murmu presented the awards in the presence of Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao. Notably, the government did not confer the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2025.
The Arjuna Award recognises consistent sporting excellence over four years, along with leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. Divya's recognition celebrates her contributions to Indian chess and her achievements on the international stage, while highlighting the growing presence of young Indian women in competitive chess.
Current Issue
Most Viewed
- 1 Talented Indian Female Actors Who Also Moonlight as Successful Producers
- 2 7 Indian Female Podcasters You Must Know About
- 3 7 Powerful Independent Indian Women Journalists Who are Voices of Change
- 4 Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh: The Creative Mind Behind Netflix India's Popular Shows
- 5 7 Most Influential Women Educators India has had over the Years
- 6 11 Breakthrough Female Faces Ruling the Indian OTT Platforms
- 7 8 Timeless Female Indian Classical Dancers & their Legacy
- 8 Women's Health Startup HerMD Closing Doors Amid Industry Challenges
- 9 Real Meets Reel: A List of 11 Indian Movies based on Real Women
- 10 Rasha Hassan: A Visionary Leader On A Mission To Transform Dubai's Real Estate Landscape
- 11 5 Indian Women-led IPOs You Must Know About
- 12 11 of the Most Iconic 21st Century Women to become "The First Indian Woman"
- 13 India's 7 Funniest Women Stand-Up Comics You Must Follow
- 14 Aparna Purohit : Leading India's Most Popular OTT Platforms
- 15 How Leaders Can Balance Risk & Innovation in Today's Banking Landscape
- 16 Dr. K. Shilpi Reddy: Sculpting Healthier Futures For The Next Generation With Reforms In Obstetrics Care
- 17 Sylvia Dcosta: A Visionary Business Leader Pushing The Limits And Setting High Professional Standards
- 18 Top 5 All-Rounder Women Cricketers of India
- 19 How Tata AIA is Empowering Women with Insurance That Understands Their Needs
